A converter valve allows product dispenser operator to change from a first fluid source to a second fluid source without fluid crossover. The converter valve includes a first port in fluid communication with a dispense point, a second port in fluid communication with a first fluid source having a fi
A converter valve allows product dispenser operator to change from a first fluid source to a second fluid source without fluid crossover. The converter valve includes a first port in fluid communication with a dispense point, a second port in fluid communication with a first fluid source having a first fluid, and a third port is in fluid communication with a second fluid source having a second fluid. The converter valve includes a passage between the first and second ports, and a plug in fluid communication with third port. The second and third ports of the converter valve are disposed symmetrically about the first port, and, accordingly, the converter valve is rotatable about the first port. As such, the converter valve delivers the first fluid to the dispense point, and delivers the second fluid through the passage to the dispense point when the converter valve is rotated.
대표청구항▼
We claim: 1. A converter valve, comprising: a body including a first port adapted to deliver fluid from the body, a second port adapted for coupling with a first fluid source, and a third port adapted for coupling with a second fluid source; the body defining a passage disposed between the first po
We claim: 1. A converter valve, comprising: a body including a first port adapted to deliver fluid from the body, a second port adapted for coupling with a first fluid source, and a third port adapted for coupling with a second fluid source; the body defining a passage disposed between the first port and the second port for delivering the first fluid from the first fluid source; the body further defining a plug in fluid communication with the third port for blocking the delivery of the second fluid from the second fluid source; and the body being rotatable about the first port to change the locations of the second and third ports, thereby placing the passage in fluid communication with the second fluid source to deliver the second fluid to the first port, and blocking the flow of the first fluid from the first fluid source. 2. The converter valve according to claim 1, wherein the first port of the converter valve is in fluid communication with a dispense point for delivery of the fluid disposed within passage of the converter valve. 3. The converter valve according to claim 1, wherein the plug is a wall separating the third port from the first and second ports. 4. The converter valve according to claim 1, wherein the first port is disposed on a first end of the body, and the second and third ports are disposed on a second end of the body. 5. The converter valve according to claim 4, wherein the second and third ports are symmetrically disposed from the first port, thereby allowing rotation about the first port. 6. The converter valve according to claim 4, further comprising: a fourth port disposed on the second end of the body, wherein the fourth port is adapted for coupling with a third fluid source; and a plug in fluid communication with the fourth port for blocking the delivery of the third fluid from the third fluid source. 7. The converter valve according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one additional port disposed on the body, wherein the at least one additional port is in fluid communication with a plug. 8. The converter valve according to claim 6, wherein the second through fourth ports are evenly disposed at a radial distance about the first port, thereby allowing rotation of the body and reconnection to a next desired port. 9. The converter valve according to claim 1, further comprising: a first marker disposed in proximity to the first port; and a second marker disposed in proximity to the second port to visually inform an operator of a present location of the passage when the converter valve is in an installed position. 10. An apparatus, comprising: a receiver block including a first passage receiving a first fluid from a first fluid source, and a second passage receiving a second fluid from a second fluid source; a body including a first port adapted to deliver fluid from the body, a second port adapted for coupling with the first passage of the receiver block, and a third port adapted for coupling with the second passage of the receiver block; the body defining a passage disposed between the first port and the second port for delivering the first fluid from the first fluid source to a dispense point in fluid communication with the first port; the body further defining a plug in fluid communication with the third port for blocking the delivery of the second fluid from the second fluid source; and the body being rotatable about the first port to change the locations of the second and third ports, thereby placing the passage of the body in fluid communication with the second passage of the receiver block to deliver the second fluid to the first port and the dispense point, and blocking the flow of the first fluid from the first passage of the receiver block. 11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first port is disposed on a first end of the body, and the second and third ports are disposed on a second end of the body. 12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the second and third ports are symmetrically disposed from the first port, thereby allowing rotation of the body about the first port. 13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the receiver block includes a third passage receiving a third fluid from a third fluid source, and a fourth passage receiving a fourth fluid from a fourth fluid source. 14. The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising: a second body including a first port adapted to deliver fluid from the second body, a second port adapted for coupling with the third passage of the receiver block, and a third port adapted for coupling with the fourth passage of the receiver block; the second body defining a passage disposed between the first port and the second port for delivering the third fluid from the third fluid source to a second dispense point in fluid communication with the first port; the second body further defining a plug in fluid communication with the third port for blocking the delivery of the fourth fluid from the fourth fluid source; and the second body being rotatable about the first port to change the locations of the second and third ports, thereby placing the passage of the second body in fluid communication with the fourth passage of the receiver block to deliver the fourth fluid to the first port and the second dispense point, and blocking the flow of the third fluid from the third passage of the receiver block. 15. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising: a fourth port disposed on the second end of the body wherein the second through fourth ports are radially disposed about the first port, thereby allowing rotation of the body about the first port. 16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the receiver block includes a third passage having an inlet and an outlet, and further wherein outlets of the first through third passages are disposed in a circular pattern of a shape complementary to the arrangement of the second through fourth ports of the body. 17. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising: at least one additional passage disposed within the receiver block, wherein an outlet of the at least one additional passage is disposed in a predetermined arrangement of the outlets of the first and second passages. 18. The apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising: at least one additional port disposed on the second end of the body, wherein the at least one additional port is in fluid communication with a plug, and further wherein the at least one additional port is disposed in a predetermined arrangement, thereby allowing rotation of the body and the engagement of all outlets upon insertion of the body into position. 19. A dispenser, comprising: a housing including a first fluid circuit containing a first fluid, a second fluid circuit containing a second fluid, and a dispense point for delivering a fluid from the housing; and a converter valve disposed within the housing, wherein the converter valve includes a passage in communication with the first fluid circuit for delivering the first fluid from the first fluid circuit and to the dispense point, and a plug in communication with the second fluid circuit for blocking the delivery of the second fluid from the second fluid circuit, and further wherein the converter valve is rotatable to align the passage in fluid communication with the second fluid circuit and the plug in fluid communication with the first fluid circuit, thereby delivering the second fluid to the dispense point and blocking the flow of the first fluid at the plug. 20. The dispenser according to claim 19, wherein the first fluid is a plain diluent. 21. The dispenser according to claim 20, wherein the second fluid is a carbonated diluent. 22. The dispenser according to claim 21, further comprising: a first concentrate circuit disposed within the housing, wherein the first concentrate circuit delivers a first concentrate from a first concentrate source; a second concentrate circuit disposed within the housing, wherein the second concentrate circuit delivers a second concentrate from a second concentrate source; and a second converter valve disposed within the housing, wherein the second converter valve includes a passage in communication with the first concentrate circuit for delivering the first concentrate from the first concentrate source to the dispense point, and a plug in communication with the second concentrate circuit for blocking the delivery of the second concentrate from the second concentrate source, and further wherein the converter valve is rotatable to align the passage in fluid communication with the second concentrate circuit and the plug in fluid communication with the first concentrate circuit, thereby blocking the flow of the first concentrate at the plug, and delivering the second concentrate to the dispense point for mixing with fluid from the first or second fluid circuits. 23. The dispenser according to claim 22, further comprising a receiver block including first through fourth passages for receiving the first and second fluid circuits and the first and second concentrate circuits. 24. The dispenser according to claim 23, wherein the receiver block also receives the first and second converter valves. 25. A dispenser, comprising: a housing; a receiver block disposed within the housing, wherein the receiver block includes a first passage in communication with a first fluid source and a second passage in fluid communication with a second fluid source; a converter valve disposed within the housing, wherein the converter valve includes a first port for delivering fluid, a second port in fluid communication with the first passage of the receiver block and a third port in fluid communication with the second passage of the receiver block, and further wherein the converter valve includes a passage disposed between the first and second ports to deliver a first fluid to the first port, and a plug in fluid communication with the third port to block the flow of a second fluid from the second fluid source; and a back block in fluid communication with the first port, wherein the back block is secured to the receiver block, thereby capturing the converter valve between the back block and the receiver block, and further wherein the converter valve is rotatable to align the second port in fluid communication with the second passage of the receiver block to deliver the second fluid to the back block and the third port in fluid communication with the first passage to block the flow of the first fluid from the first fluid source. 26. The dispenser according to claim 25, further comprising: dispense point disposed within the housing, wherein an inlet of the dispense point is in fluid communication with an outlet of the back block, to receive fluid from the passage of the converter valve and dispense the fluid for use. 27. The dispenser according to claim 25, wherein the back block is further secured to a faucet plate. 28. The dispenser according to claim 27, wherein the first port of the converter valve protrudes through the faucet plate to couple with the back block. 29. The dispenser according to claim 25, further comprising: a second receiver block disposed adjacent to the first receiver block, wherein the second receiver block includes a first passage in communication with a first concentrate source and a second passage in fluid communication with a second concentrate source. 30. The dispenser according to claim 29, further comprising: a second converter valve disposed within the housing, wherein the second converter valve includes a first port for delivering fluid, a second port in fluid communication with the first passage of the second receiver block and a third port in fluid communication with the second passage of the second receiver block, and further wherein the second converter valve includes a passage disposed between the first and second ports to deliver a first concentrate to the first port, and a plug in fluid communication with the third port to block the flow of a second concentrate from the second concentrate source. 31. The dispenser according to claim 30, further comprising: a second back block in fluid communication with the first port of the second converter valve, wherein the second back block is secured to the second receiver block, thereby capturing the second converter valve between the second back block and the second receiver block, and further wherein the second converter valve is rotatable to align the second port in fluid communication with the second passage of the second receiver block to deliver the second concentrate to the second back block and the third port in fluid communication with the first passage of the second receiver block to block the flow of the first concentrate from the first concentrate source. 32. The dispenser according to claim 31, wherein the dispense point includes a second inlet in fluid communication with the first port of the second converter valve, and receives concentrate from the passage of the second converter valve for mixing with the fluid from the passage of the first converter valve. 33. The dispenser according to claim 25, further comprising: at least one additional passage disposed within the receiver block, wherein an outlet of the at least one additional passage is disposed in a predetermined arrangement of the outlets of the first and second passages. 34. The dispenser according to claim 33, further comprising: at least one additional port disposed on the converter valve, wherein the at least one additional port is in fluid communication with a plug, and further wherein the at least one additional port is disposed in a predetermined arrangement with the second and third ports, thereby allowing rotation of the body and the reinsertion of the second, third and at least one additional port into receiver block outlets. 35. A method of changing product lines delivering product to a dispense point, comprising: a. providing a dispenser including a first fluid circuit and a second fluid circuit; b. providing a converter valve including a passage disposed between a first port and a second port of the converter valve, and a plug in fluid communication with a third port; c. placing the converter valve into the dispenser such that the passage is in fluid communication with the first fluid circuit and the third port is in fluid communication with the second fluid circuit, thereby delivering a first fluid from the first fluid circuit to a dispense point in fluid communication with the first port, and blocking a flow of a second fluid from the second fluid circuit; d. removing the converter valve from the dispenser; e. rotating the converter valve about an axis of the first port; and f. reinstalling the converter valve in the rotated position, such that the second port is in fluid communication with the second fluid circuit to deliver the second fluid from the second fluid circuit, and the third port is in fluid communication with the first fluid circuit, thereby delivering the second fluid from the second fluid circuit to the dispense point and blocking the flow of the first fluid from the first fluid circuit. 36. A method of changing a product delivered to a dispense point, comprising: a. providing a receiver block including a first passage and a second passage, wherein the first passage is in fluid communication with a first fluid circuit and the second passage is in fluid communication with a second fluid circuit; b. providing a converter valve including a passage disposed between a first port and a second port of the converter valve, and a plug in fluid communication with a third port, wherein the first port is in fluid communication with a dispense point; c. placing the second port of the converter valve into fluid communication with the first passage of the receiver block, thereby extending the first fluid circuit through the passage of the converter valve to the dispense point, and placing the third port of the converter valve into fluid communication with the second passage of the receiver block, thereby blocking the second fluid circuit at the plug; d. removing the converter valve from the receiver block; e. reinstalling the converter valve such that the second port is in fluid communication with the second passage of the receiver block and the third port is in fluid communication with the second passage of the receiver block, thereby extending the second fluid circuit to the dispense point, and blocking the first fluid circuit.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (4)
Riall James D. (Pittsford NY), Bottle closure mechanism using a sliding shutter.
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